The Day Has Arrived!

I think it is time for the American perspective. :) While Dow and Rosemary have been our narrators to this point, I thought I'd try to live update from the parkway.

This whole trip has been amazingly full of grace so far and this day has been nothing different. We boarded our train in New Jersey and Dow, Rosemary, Gina, Lisa, Fitz, Kathryn and myself (Cassie) this morning and made our way into the city with ease. After a brisk walk from the station, we split ways at the convention center. The media team headed off to get the equipment set up and to claim their spot on the risers.

As the crew got to work, Fitz, Catherine and I grabbed coffee and something to eat at our favorite market and took in the atmosphere and excitement of all the pilgrims. It was a easy walk for a while until we walked by the basilica and the roads were blocked for Papa Francisco to pass by. Damian and Suzie were on the opposite side of the parkway from us and we're easily able to walk to the parkway. In the end we found each other and along the way found my friends from the US. Right now, I am standing along the roadside where Pope Francis is supposed to pass while the Trini crew are up front where they can see the stage and road and a Jumbotron. All in all, we have very good spots to see. It truly is excitement and chaos all at the same time!

While we relax in our spots, the TV crews have been hard at work gathering interviews and getting in their spots. Dow has even had the chance to meet Fr. Robert Barron and Anderson Cooper. Check out the pictures on the side of the blog by clicking on the picture itself and flipping through the side show to see all that has happened. Will keep updating as we go.

Keeping busy and Learning a lot

As you can tell trying to keep a blog going with our schedule is not easy. It is now 10:30 pm and We have to give an update but everything right now is a blur.

   Our days seem to be filled with endless walking and walking and talking and talking!
The Pennsylvania Convention Centre (all 1 million square miles of it) has become our home away from home and the 17,000 people milling around in it are like our best buddies.  Jokes aside it is really the most amazing atmosphere. All these thousands of Catholic families under one roof.  Babies, tiny tots, teenagers and parents all full of the joy of the Lord, smiling and laughing and reaching out in love to one another.  Bishop Robert Llanos said he even saw a father pushing Quadruplets in a carriage this morning.  deacons, priests, Bishops and Cardinals by the grap!  And again we have to mention the first class organization.

       We have tried to capture the scene in our interviews but we know it is impossible to really bring it all to you.  Today we interviewed a lady running one of the booths who is promoting Children's Rosary groups all over the world. Well! Her little boy, 8 years old made our day and our week! Everybody has to see that interview if you can.  He says "Let me get my jacket so I can talk to you properly."  With that he stole the show as he explained what the ministry was all about.

         We are so privileged to have the use of the most wonderful Media Room that so far we have not had to share with too many other people.  The truth is that there must be about another 30 people in there but the room is so big it almost seems empty.

The Centre is very well equipped with bathrooms on every floor for the Masses but we are even more blessed with a bank of 10 toilets all to ourselves and the bathroom area is cleaned every 30 minutes.  17,000 people and we never have to line up.


There are huge TV Screens all over this room.  Most show the Main talk that is going on in the hall. A couple run CNN all day and others cover whatever press conference is going on in our room at the time.  We could see the Pope arriving at the White House or addressing Congress so clearly, you felt you could reach out and touch him.


       Philadelphia is a city of Huge Murals everywhere and hardly any Graffiti because of that. Presently an Artist is trying to enter the Guinness book of Records by having the most people take part in the painting of one Mural.  So, he has large parts of it on Tables in the Ballroom and everyone is invited to sign up and take part in painting some portion.  So, we had some fun doing that yesterday.  You can imagine how Lisa loved that!  Philadelphia has to be one of the most beautiful cities in America.  From the outskirts where we are staying, to the City Centre it is really something to see and enjoy.  Not a bad place to live.


        One major discovery we made early on in the week has been the 'Reading Terminal Market' which continues to amaze and entertain and provide great enjoyment for all.  You walk through those doors into a 'Disney-world' of food of every kind and gift items and anything else you can think of.  It is set up with streets and Aisles.  The smells of Roast Peking Duck and German Sausages and Pizza and Hot Philly Cheese Sandwiches and Thai Food and Coffee Houses and Ice-Cream Shops.  When we eventually have time to eat lunch we don't have to even think of where to go it is all right there under one roof!


        We are amazed at the preparations for the Holy Father's visit.  A large part of the city is on lock down from 6. Extremely limited vehicular traffic.  People are talking as if they are preparing for a Hurricane!  Some people who live in the City have actually decided to move out for the weekend.  We saw a Pharmacist being interviewed saying that he had warned his customers to stock up on medication and get what they needed last week.  No more cars are being allowed past a wide mike radius of the City.  We have to drive to an out of town train station at 6:30am and take the train into the city and walk to the Conference Centre.

   Thank God for our beautiful 'Wannabe Trini' - Cassie Schemmel.  She has been pure gift.  I cannot imagine what we would have done or where we would be without her. She has been wonderful as a GPS and Navigator for Rosemary as she drives.  She sat and planned the best route for us to take - morning by car and by train - when we reached home with burning feet and aching backs we decided to try and sort out some of the stuff we have accumulated over the days.  Piles of Catholic Literature and give aways from the exhibition.  Running between the two rooms exchanging things and trying to identify what belongs to who?  In the midst of this we hear a strange sound in the passage way and here comes Cassie covered in Gina's old Linus blanket she brought from home with holes all over! Making ghostly sounds and giggling.  She doesn't see a Spanish lady coming down the corridor.....the Lady starts one laughing at the crazy scene. Cassie and Gina start giggling uncontrollably, twisting under the holy blanket and Rosemary is paralyzed with embarrassment in her room with the door open, her face red as a beetroot!

   No laughing matter is the fact that there is some mix up with our Hotel Reservations and poor Rosemary has been back and forth with the reservations desk tonight.  They are saying that we might all have to change rooms in the morning!! When???  We leave here at 6:30am!!!  Pray for God to put a hand! mercy Lord, Mercy!

Opening Day

Well - Let's see, where we reach? Kathyrn and Fitz Tardieu arrived by train from New York last night, Rosemary, Cassie and Dow went to meet them.  One of the strange things about this place is there are hardly any street lights. On top of that people seem to turn on hardly any lights in their homes and this is a country station that the train is coming into.  So, it was a little spooky getting there and not easy to find.  We finally found a small car park and a train pulled in. We watched everyone get off and no sign of them although they sent a text to say they had arrived.  We realized they must be on the other side so we found our way over there and spotted these two lonely figures standing in the dark way down at the other end of the station.  All's well that ends well.
 This morning, Tuesday, we were off to an early start. Rosemary, Cassie, Dow, Gina, Fitz and Kathyrn piled into the car with the usual trunk load of equipment and joined the morning traffic into the city.  The Convention Centre was a beehive of activity and the atmosphere charged with excitement as more and more people flowed in to register.
   The Trinity team - Gina, Dow and Rosemary headed back to the Media Room which is the size of the biggest room at the Centre of Excellence!!  Cassie joined, Fitz and Kathyrn along with Damien and Suzie as Participants.
    Once again there are no words to describe the size of this place. The walk from the Media room to the hall where they celebrated Mass we reckon to be about the distance from our Centre to Independence Square.  They actually have one booth renting motor scooters to help people move around.
     Lisa Bhajan flew in today after her sojourn in Cuba. Came straight to the Conference Centre with all her bags and baggage and got to work.
    Today's activities included a Press Conference, Opening ceremony, Key note Talk by Bishop Robert Barron (who you can see is not used to wearing all his new 'paraphernalia ' ) and opening Mass.  The procession to begin Mass lasted about 30 minutes! One lady asked Rosemary if she thought there were any priests left in the whole of the States? Because they all seemed to be there.  The Choir was out of this world and everything organized perfectly.

    The Exhibition Room is something to be seen.  Over 300 booths.  Each one creatively designed. Curtains and sofas and lights and decorations and 'give aways'.
And as wonderful as all the booths are, the Knights of Columbus booth make the others look like almost nothing.  There's is like Westmall at Christmas compared to a shop in St. James! 

And everybody everywhere, smiling and happy, falling over themselves to please.  We have met the most amazing people and families from all over the world.

So after a very long day we left the city around 8pm, adding Lisa and her bags to the car and headed 'home' to Best Western.  On the way stopping off for our first real meal for the day. Now all the tired Teddy Bears have had hot showers and are flopping into bed hoping to get a good nights rest before the start of another busy day.
Thank God for Living Water Community and for Trinity TV and for the amazing and wonderful adventures that God calls us to that we would never have dreamed or imagined possible.

Preparing for the Conference

Monday we were on the move early.  3 Carry-ons stuffed with video equipment. 1 Tripod and each one of us with full Back Packs on our backs.   The traffic was of course a little different with people going to work but not terrible.  Got to the Car Park to find that although we had pre-paid for an allotted parking spot BEFORE we left Trinidad all we really got was entrance through the gate and got to squeeze in with a lot of other cars double and triple parked!  Well, that’s still better than parking on the road much further away.  In a city that expects 17,000 people to attend the World Meeting of Families and 2 million people coming to see the Pope over the weekend you take what you get and say a big Thank you!

It was amazing to see how organized these people were for Registration at the Convention Centre.  Everything moving like clock work.  Everybody smiling and reaching out in welcome.  One team scans each persons barcode and once it checks out you get your name tag to hang around your neck.  Next you go to the second smiling team who are handing out T Shirts and special Back Packs FULL of all kinds of stuff – endless Literature of all kinds and pens, rain coat, water bottle etc….

So, the 4 of us now have 2 back packs each and the giggling continues.  We had to find a spot and try to consolidate all this stuff and squish back packs one into the other and try to divide the weight evenly.

Then we had to get our Media accreditation in another room.  You have to understand the size of this building.  I understand it is a Million square feet.  You feel like you are walking for miles to get from one room to another.  Once we had our Media badges we were able to enter the special Media room and find the space allotted to us – Trinity TV!  This room is about 4 times the size of the Hilton Ballroom.  Lined with Lifetime tables and chairs.  Extension cords and plug in strips for each 4 tables.  Large Flat Screens everywhere!  These people have thought of every detail.  We were the early birds so we got a great position and were able to set up and do a trial run etc… Gina and Dow went out front and did a bit of filming and as they were coming down the Escalator heard a loud shout, “Dow!”  Ann Marie Davis.  She was in a state of excitement.  Ann Marie did all that she could to make arrangements for all of us to meet her when we got to Philadelphia but nothing was put in place except an exchange of phone numbers.  God of course is always full of surprises and organized the surprise meeting.

At around 2:30 pm we finally felt we had to eat.  We were all hungry and tired.  Of course one of our main challenges is what to do with all the equipment and bags and baggage whenever we have to go anywhere.  We went out onto the Street and decided that we would find something to eat at the first and nearest place we set our eyes on.  Right across the Street was a place called ‘Reading Market Place’ and we went through the doors. Well!  How can this place be described? It is just that a – Market Place of Food of every kind.  Like a ‘Shanty Town’ of Small restaurants one on top the other with seating areas in between. Everything and everybody hustling and bustling.  In between are shops with fresh and cured meats and cheeses.  We didn’t have to go anywhere else. Cassie led us to a counter where she said we should try the real Philly Steak and Cheese Sandwich which was delicious.  Dow walked around with her iPad taking some video for all at home to see and get the feel for this incredible place and of course we will be going back there every day! No need to look anywhere else after making this discovery.  Then we washed the Philly Sandwiches down with ice-cream cones from a place in the same Market that has been making ice-cream since 18 something or other and it was goooood.

Updates will be coming from our first day out in the conference. Keep tuning in!

God Bless,

Suzanne Dowdy

New York to Philly

Well everyone, it seems like blogs are the “in thing” so this Philly team cannot be left out.  We are off to a late start since we left Trinidad on Friday at Midnight.  So, for those who don’t have a clue what’s going on…… Rosemary, Dow and Gina left Trinidad as the ‘Trinity TV’, team heading for Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families. They are joined by Fitz and Kathyrn Tardieu and Damien and Suzie de Verteuil who will be attending the Conference as Participants.  Landing at JFK Airport in New York they were met first by our ‘Wanna be’ Trini – Cassie Schemmel.  Cassie first spent a summer with our Community in Trinidad a few years ago and fell in love with the Living Water and cannot stand being away from our Community.  We rented a 7 seater car and drove to a small and delightful town in New Jersey called Woodbridge, to spend the rest of the day and overnight at a Bed and Breakfast.

When you think New York/New Jersey, I bet you think – tall buildings, busy streets, traffic - but this town is about a 40 minute drive from JFK and a lovely scenic drive crossing the Verrazano  bridge and on through lots of green trees and beautiful scenery.  That day there was a Street Fair down the whole length of the Main Street.  Homemade baked goods and handmade craft. Families walking around enjoying the sunshine and meeting and greeting neighbours and friends.  Lovely atmosphere.  That afternoon we went to Mass at the Church of St. James (125 years old) and the atmosphere there was much the same.  Real Community spirit.  You get the feeling that the town grew up around the Church.  Every building around the Church seemed to be something Catholic – The School, Knights of Columbus, Kindergarden etc.. small houses with rocking chairs in each porch and pretty gardens.

We checked out at Noon and hit the road. Rosemary, Dow, Gina and Cassie.  Heading to Philadelphia with Rosemary comfortably at the wheel and Cassie navigating with the help of the GPS.  Lots of laughter and giggles along the way.  Again the scenery was amazing.  Small forested areas and lots of green and flowers.  Lovely homes tucked away in clusters behind fir trees. Absolutely beautiful.

We then checked in to the Best Western Inn. This is about an hours drive from the City Centre.  We used Sunday with less traffic and people to find our way about.  Drove to the Pennsylvania Convention Centre.  Located the Parking Lot that we will use every day and timed our walk from there to the Centre. All in all a day full of adventure. 

And so it begins...

Ok....... WE ARE HERE!!!!!!!! 

After parking in our 'reserved' parking lot, which was full, but because we had reservations the attendant had to accept us, we headed off to the convention center with all our carry on equipment filled with camera equipment etc.!!!!!!! A 15 minute walk, but not bad. Thank God for luggage with wheels. Hope they hold out.....

As I said before this place is HUGE. No exaggeration!!!!!!!!! Registration went very smoothly. They are very organized and we got our new back packs full of books, materials of all kinds, t-shirt, cap etc etc etc.... Heavy!!!!! And then we head off to find the media center to register....... With extra back pack, carry ons, etc...... And yes, giggling that we have too much to carry, but we're learning fast as to what to leave behind tomorrow. Oh did I mention we have apples, grapes, nuts, etc for when we are hungry😀

Anyway, after a 10 minute walk - inside the building- we have reached the media center and they are CLOSED until midday. No need to panic, that gives us the time to sit, breathe and consolidate all these bags and shed some unnecessary load. Start eating the grapes and apples people!!!!!

AH, NOW WE'RE READY!!!!!!!!

So Cassie and I are waiting for the media center to open and Dow and Gina, our roving reporters have headed off with camera and microphone in hand to begin this wonderful journey........... We are so blessed, happy and excited to be here......

Not sure when Dow will have a minute to get the blog going so this will have to do. Cassie has been taking pictures along the way so maybe later we'll send some.

Okay, the line is getting a little long for the registration so I had better get in line.

Love you all. Over and out.

Rosemary and the team.

Discovering Philly

Ok..... So here we are again.  

After a late sleep and leisurely breakfast we headed off to Philadelphia..... About an hour and a half drive. I am the main driver and Cassie is the navigator with the help of the GPS. Gina and Dow get car sick so can't read or follow directions in the car.
Settled into our Best Western just after lunch and then headed into the city to get our bearings organized before action starts tomorrow. We are about a half hour drive out of the city.

The city is beautiful and the Convention Center is HUGE. It goes on for blocks and blocks, but very beautiful. The buildings in the area are beautiful. We did a dry run to find our parking zone. How far to walk from car park to building. Etc etc etc. Looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.......

We were able to see right at the entrance a beautiful life size Pieta statue being unloaded. And all the bill boards welcoming the Pope. Excitement for so.....

Ok then...... Until tomorrow.

God bless,
Rosemary and the team.

We Have Arrived!

Day 1 - Arrival to JFK

Hi Everyone,

Just a little update.........

Below you will see an article from the Catholic Register that speaks about lay movements who will be attending the World Meeting of Families, (WMOF), LWC being one. The person who wrote the article met Kathleen at a Conference in Rome last year and asked her if anyone from the Community was attending this WMOF. Kathleen gave her my name and she wrote me and asked for a few thoughts...... Hence the little paragraph on LWC.

Ok..... A little brief on our arrival...... The flight was uneventful, we slept a little. We were met by a friend of Gina's who very kindly drove us over to the car rental place to pick up our vehicle. Nice mini van that can hold all of us and luggage....... As you know we have cameras and all the equipment to go with that so needed a vehicle with space. Lovely van.   This friend is quite a character and took control. She was great and very helpful....and off we went heading to NJ for our first overnight on our way to Philadelphia. We are at a lovely town called Woodbridge and the hotel allowed us an early check in, and even invited us to have breakfast which was yummy.... Waffles, fruit, buffet with pork sausages, eggs, potatoes etc. we enjoyed that!

It just happened that the RC church was hosting a day fair, which is like a flea market. All the Main Street blocked off with tents and goods of all kinds and lots of food.

Needless to say, no matter how tired we were, we just had to be a part of that. It was lovely. Lots of families, children, real nice atmosphere. 

After that we came home and slept in our lovely comfortable room. Got up in time for Mass and then went for dinner and back home and a good nights sleep.

So we are ready now for our amazing week of grace....... Leaving here shortly for PA Best Western hotel and will keep you updated as time permits.

Love to all...... And remember to read the article below.

Rosemary and the Trinity TV team, on location

http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/journeys-of-joy-and-love/